Profs and Pints Online presents: “The History of Tibetan Buddhism,” with Justin Jacobs, associate professor of history at American University and scholar of ancient China and the Silk Road.

[ This talk will remain available in recorded form at the link given here for tickets and access.]

Come take a scholarly journey to Tibet, the “rooftop of the world,” to gain a deep understanding of the history and current status of Tibetan Buddhism. Your guide will be Justin Jacobs, who previously has given fantastic Profs and Pints talks on Chinese philosophy, the Silk Road, and the history of archeology.

Professor Jacobs will teach you about the origins of Tibetan Buddhism and the invention and evolution of the Dalai Lama reincarnation process. You’ll also learn about the lineage of the Dalai Lamas, about their contentious and oft-misunderstood relationship with the rulers of China over the centuries, and about how China has long attempted to manipulate how the Dalai Lama is named.

Our chief stop on this virtual tour will be Lhasa’s Potala Palace, a towering red and white structure that serves as a symbol of both the unique brand of Buddhism found in Tibet and of the Tibetan nation itself. Since its construction in the seventeenth century, the Potala Palace has been home to ten Dalai Lamas and witnessed several traumatic encounters with the outside world. We’ll explore the inner sanctum of this religious fortress, and examine the art and artifacts that have animated Tibetan Buddhism’s past and continue to mold its future.

You’ll come away from this talk fully conversant in the arcane politics and rituals destined to accompany the selection of the next Dalai Lama sometime in the near future.

Profs & Pints Online: The History of Tibetan Buddhism